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Dynamic equilibria
If a reversible reaction is carried out in a closed container
so that the reactants and products cannot escape, a state of
dynamic equilibrium can be established.

A + B C + D

This state is dynamic because both the forward and reverse

reactions are ongoing.
It is an equilibrium because:
 the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are
the same
 the net concentrations of the components of the reaction
mixture remain constant.

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Position of equilibrium

For reaction 2NO2 (g) ==N2O4(g)

State and explain: how does the following changes

affect equilibrium?

a)Increasing concentration of NO2

b)Decreasing concentration of N2O4

c)Increasing pressure

d)Increasing Temperature (you have to decide if it was

an exo or endo thermic reaction first)
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For reaction 2NO2 (g) ==N2O4(g)

State and explain: how does the following changes affect

equilibrium?

a)Increasing concentration of NO2

Increasing concentration of R, eq Shift towards RHS (1)
a)Decreasing concentration of N2O4
Decreasing concentration of P, eq shift towards RHS (1)
a)Increasing pressure
Increasing P, shift towards the side with fewer number of moles
of gases, (1) that is RHS (1)
a)Increasing Temperature (you have to decide if it was an exo
or endo thermic reaction fist)
Increasing T, shift towards endothermic reaction side, (1) which
is LHS (1) (forward reaction is bond making, exo)

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The equilibrium constant
At equilibrium, the ratio of the concentrations of products to
reactants is constant. The ratio value is called the
equilibrium constant, Kc. It is always the same for a
particular reaction under fixed conditions.

For the general reaction:

aA + bB cC + dD

the equilibrium constant (Kc) is given by:

[C]c[D]d
Kc =
[B]b[A]a

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The value of Kc
The size of Kc tells us about how the equilibrium mixture is
made up.
[products]
KC =
[reactants]

 If Kc > 1, the concentration of products is greater than the

concentration of reactants and we say that the equilibrium
lies to the right hand side.
 If Kc>> 1, [P] >>[R] equilibrium lies to the far right

 If Kc < 1, then the concentration of reactants is greater

than the concentration of products and we say that the
equilibrium lies to the left hand side.
 If Kc<<1, [P]<<[R] equilibrium lies to the far left
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Kc for heterogenous reactions

• BaCO3(s) == BaO(s) + CO2(g)

(consider [solid ] as 1)
Kc= [ CO2]
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) == MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
(consider [S] [aq] as 1
Kc= [H2]
NH3(g) + HCl(g) == NH4Cl (s)
1
Kc = [NH3] [HCl]

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Write Kc expression
1 Are they homogenous or heterogeneous?
2 When heterogenous, consider the concentration of solid as 1

a)CaCO3(s) == CaO(s) + CO2(g)

b)H2(g) + I2(g) == 2HI (g)

c)½ H2(g) + ½ I2 (g) == HI (g)

d)N2O4(g) == 2NO2(g)

e)2NO2(g) == N2O4(g)

f)N2(g)+ 3H2(g) == 2NH3(g)

If the conditions are the same, what is the relationship between Kc for b and c;
for d and e?

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Write Kc expression
1 Are they homogenous or heterogeneous?
2 When heterogenous, consider the concentration of solid as 1

a)CaCO3(s) == CaO(s) + CO2(g)

b)H2(g) + I2(g) == 2HI (g)

c)½ H2(g) + ½ I2 (g) == HI (g)

d)N2O4(g) == 2NO2(g)

e)2NO2(g) == N2O4(g)

f)N2(g)+ 3H2(g) == 2NH3(g)

If the conditions are the same, what is the relationship between Kc for b and c;
for d and e?

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Calculating Kc

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Calculating Kc

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Unit of Kc 2SO2 (g) + O2(g) == 2SO3(g)

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Unit of Kc

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Units of Kc

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Work out the units of Kc

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Exam tips
• You must write kc= when write the expression, not just the
right hand side
• You must always give the unit for kc after calculation, as
the unit varies; just write no unit if the units all cancel out
• Consider the concentration of a solid as 1 in a
heterogeneous reaction
• When water is a solvent as well as a product, do not
include water in the expression, such as a neutralisation
reaction
• When water is a product in an organic reaction, you must
include water in the expression, such as an esterification
reaction.

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• Water as solvent as well as product, it is not
included in the Kc expression
• NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) ==NaCl (aq) + H2O(l)
[NaCl]
• Kc = [NaOH] [HCl]

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When water is not a solvent, (often in
organic reactions) such as condensation
reaction:
CH3CH2OH(l) + CH3COOH (l) ==
CH3COOCH2CH3 (l) + H2O (l)
[CH3COOCH2CH3] [H2O]
Kc= [CH3CH2OH] [CH3COOH]

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 Unit:

dm3mol-1

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Calculating Kc

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Kc calculations

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Kc and temperature
The value of Kc is only affected by Temperature,
it is not affected by concentration or pressure.

When the forward reaction is exothermic,

increasing T shift the equilibrium position to the
LHS, Kc decreases
When the forward reaction is endothermic,
increasing T shift the equilibrium position to the
RHS, Kc increases

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Kc and Temperature
When forward reaction is When forward reaction is
exothermic: endothermic:

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Change of concentration and pressure

The value of Kc is not affected by the

change of concentration and pressure

When these conditions changes, the

equilibrium position will change, e.g. the
concentration at the equilibrium will change,
so that Kc value is restored.

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Gas equilibria
For reactions involving gases, it is difficult to measure the
concentration of a particular gas. Instead the quantity of
each gas in an equilibrium mixture is described in terms of
the pressure that it exerts – the partial pressure.

partial pressure = mole fraction × total pressure

(pA) (xA) × (ptot)

The mole fraction is given by:

no. moles of species A

mole fraction of A =
total no. moles of all species

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Calculating partial pressures

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Calculating partial pressures

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The equilibrium constant, Kp
The equilibrium constant for gas phase reactions is called Kp.

aA(g) + bB(g) cC(g) + dD(g)

For this general equilibrium, Kp is given by:

p(C)cp(D)d
Kp =
p(A)ap(B)b

where p(A) means the partial pressure of species A

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Units of Kp
Like Kc, the units for Kp must be worked out for each reaction.
For the gas phase equilibrium:

A(g) + 2B(g) C(g) + D(g)

The equilibrium constant, Kp, is given by:

p(C)p(D)
Kp =
p(A)p(B)2

So units are calculated as follows:

(kPa) (kPa) 1
Kp = = = kPa–1
(kPa)(kPa) 2 kPa

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Kp expressions and units

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Calculating Kp

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Calculating Kp

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Le Chatelier’s Principle
Le Chatelier’s principle states that:

If a factor affecting the

position of an equilibrium is
altered, the position of the
equilibrium shifts to oppose
the effect of the change.

Le Chatelier’s principle is used to

determine what effect a change will
have on a mixture at equilibrium.

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Effect of temperature on Kc

Changing the temperature changes the value

of the equilibrium constant, Kc.

The effect on Kc depends on whether the reaction

is exothermic or endothermic.

 If the reaction is exothermic, increasing the

temperature shifts the equilibrium to the left
and the value of Kc decreases.

 If the reaction is endothermic, increasing the

temperature shifts the equilibrium to the right
and the value of Kc increases.

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Effect of concentration on Kc

The value of the equilibrium constant is only affected

by temperature.

If the concentration of a reactant or product changes, the

equilibrium shifts to oppose the change.
 If the concentration of a product is decreased, the
equilibrium shifts to convert more of the reactants into
products.
 If the concentration of a reactant is decreased, the
equilibrium shifts to favour the backward reaction.
The ratio of products to reactants is restored and the value
of Kc remains the same.

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The effect of pressure

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The effect of a catalyst
A catalyst increases the
rate of reaction without without
catalyst

energy
being used up itself.

with catalyst

time
A catalyst increases the rate of the forward and backward
reactions equally.
It does not affect the position of equilibrium, the yield or the
value of the equilibrium constant.
It does, however, increase the speed at which equilibrium
is achieved.

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Le Chatelier’s principle: true or false?

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Industrial equilibria

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Maximizing atom economy
Industrial processes are continually being made more
economical and efficient.
 Unreacted reagents are
recycled. In the Haber
process, hydrogen and
nitrogen that pass out of the
reaction vessel with ammonia
are separated out and fed
back in.
 Research is ongoing for alternative
reactions that require lower
temperatures and pressures and
cheaper, more effective catalysts.

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Glossary

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What’s the keyword?

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Multiple-choice quiz

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